Does my business need a fire risk assessment?

Almost certainly. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to nearly all non-domestic premises in England. That includes offices, shops, workshops, warehouses, restaurants, pubs, surgeries, nurseries, care homes, village halls and places of worship. If people work in or visit the building, the Order is likely to apply, whether you own it, rent it or run a one-person business from it.

The main duty is to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, act on what it finds and keep it up to date.

Who is the responsible person?

The Order puts the duty on the "responsible person". In a workplace, that is normally the employer. Where the premises are not a workplace, or someone else is in charge of them, it is the person in control, which can be an owner, a landlord or a managing agent.

The duty can be shared. A tenant business and the landlord of the building often each hold part of it, and they are expected to cooperate and pass on information. If you are not sure which side you are on, your lease usually says who looks after shared areas, alarms and escape routes.

What does an assessment cover?

An assessor walks through the premises and works out how a fire could start, spread and harm people. They will typically look at:

sources of ignition and fuel, from heaters and electrical equipment to stored paper, packaging and waste
who is at risk, including staff, visitors, contractors, lone workers and anyone who would need help to leave
fire detection and alarms, and whether they can be heard in every part of the building
escape routes, exit doors, signs and emergency lighting
fire doors and how the building holds back flames and smoke
extinguishers and any other firefighting equipment
how staff are told what to do, trained and drilled
who checks and maintains all of this, and how often

Do I need the assessment in writing?

Yes. Since 1 October 2023 every responsible person must record the whole fire risk assessment in writing, not just its significant findings, whatever the size of the business. You must also record your fire safety arrangements, meaning how fire safety is organised and managed in the premises, and the name of anyone you engaged to carry out or review the assessment, with their organisation if they have one. The government explains these changes in its guidance on section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022.

A clear written record also shows an inspector what you did and makes the next review quicker.

Can I do it myself?

For small, simple premises you can, as long as you are competent to do it properly. The government publishes fire safety guidance by type of premises on gov.uk.

The case for bringing someone in grows with the size and complexity of the building.

How do I judge whether an assessor is competent?

There is no single licence needed to call yourself a fire risk assessor, so it pays to ask. Useful questions are:

What training do you have in fire risk assessment, and have you assessed premises like mine?
Are you listed on a competence register, such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), or is your company third-party certificated, for example to BAFE scheme SP205?
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Will you follow a recognised, published method for the assessment, and which one?
What will the report contain, and will the actions be ranked by priority?

What happens on the day?

Plan for the assessor to need access to every room, including store cupboards, plant rooms, roof spaces and any areas let to other occupiers. Have someone who knows the building on hand, along with earlier assessments, alarm and emergency lighting test records, and floor plans if you have them.

Who enforces the rules in Hertfordshire?

For most premises in the county, the enforcing authority is Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which publishes fire safety advice for workplaces and businesses. Its officers can ask to see your assessment and can serve notices where they find shortcomings. Serious breaches can lead to prosecution.

A building close to the county boundary may come under a neighbouring fire and rescue service, so check which county your premises are in.

What should I include in my enquiry?

the type of premises and what happens there
the postcode and the number of floors
how many people work there, and roughly how many visit
whether you share the building with other businesses or with residents
whether anyone sleeps on the premises
the date of any earlier assessment
whether you own, rent or manage the building

What happens after I send it?

Asking costs nothing and you are not committed. Where an assessor covers your postcode, they agree the scope and terms with you directly.

Who you will hear from

We pass your enquiry to one local fire risk assessor, if one covers your postcode. It is never sent to a list of companies. If nobody covers your postcode, we will tell you and will not pass your details on.